Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market

Lil and I needed to pick up vegetables for dinner yesterday and decided to visit the Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market.

The market is held on Wednesday afternoons at the corner of North State and East Home streets. It is a small market but highly selective about vendors, choosing the best vegetable growers, meat farmers, and quality producers. We appreciated that in the compact space we didn't have to sift through crafts or junk to find good, real food.

On this particular Wednesday in early May, Lil paired bread samples from Dan the Baker with Sweet Thing Gourmet jam. I picked up asparagus from Flying J Farm and asked for radishes from Bird's Haven Farms, though they didn't have any yet. We checked in at the Swainway Urban Farm tent where we will work every other week starting in June.

We easily found free parking less than a block away from the market.  If we had more time, we could have explored the many shops and small eateries in uptown. It is a good idea to pack a cooler or insulated bag to keep your purchases chilled if you want to tour uptown Westerville.

The crowd was friendly and full but not uncomfortably crowded. Like most seasonal markets, I expect Uptown Westerville will attract more shoppers as farmers are able to bring a bigger variety of produce. It's a great little market with plenty of real, local food.

Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market

Wednesdays weekly May - October 3 - 6 pm

N. State & E. Home in Uptown Westerville, OH

Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market

Lil and I needed to pick up vegetables for dinner yesterday and decided to visit the Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market.

The market is held on Wednesday afternoons at the corner of North State and East Home streets. It is a small market but highly selective about vendors, choosing the best vegetable growers, meat farmers, and quality producers. We appreciated that in the compact space we didn't have to sift through crafts or junk to find good, real food.

On this particular Wednesday in early May, Lil paired bread samples from Dan the Baker with Sweet Thing Gourmet jam. I picked up asparagus from Flying J Farm and asked for radishes from Bird's Haven Farms, though they didn't have any yet. We checked in at the Swainway Urban Farm tent where we will work every other week starting in June.

We easily found free parking less than a block away from the market.  If we had more time, we could have explored the many shops and small eateries in uptown. It is a good idea to pack a cooler or insulated bag to keep your purchases chilled if you want to tour uptown Westerville.

The crowd was friendly and full but not uncomfortably crowded. Like most seasonal markets, I expect Uptown Westerville will attract more shoppers as farmers are able to bring a bigger variety of produce. It's a great little market with plenty of real, local food.

Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market

Wednesdays weekly May - October 3 - 6 pm

N. State & E. Home in Uptown Westerville, OH

Jerry's Berries Strawberry U-Pick Baltimore Ohio {Farm Tour}

Finding strawberries seems to be an ever-elusive springtime goal of mine. No other fruit causes me to panic when I can't get them because of weather or farm issues or my own busy-ness. Strawberries are typically my first local preserves of the season, the turning point when empty jars become full again. This year was no exception. My favorite farm from last year, Bird's Haven, had no u-pick berries available due to deer pressure while work and family distractions delayed finding a new farm. Our own patch produced well but only enough for a daily handful. I found myself fixated on picking strawberries once again.

Alex, Lil, and I were finally able to find a morning to visit a highly-recommended farm new to us. Jerry's Berries is located south east of Columbus in Baltimore, Ohio, a forty minute drive from our homestead.

What makes Jerry's unique among local farms is the number of varieties. Each are labeled and pickers are encouraged to taste the rows to find their favorite. Our family preferred NorthEaster and Sparkle. Both of these kinds are small but highly flavorful, making them worth the extra time spent picking and processing.

Jerry's will provide a basket or you can bring your own to weigh before picking. Berries are $1.90 per pound. The entire berry patch is contained in a tall deer fence, which conveniently keeps kids close too. Some varieties were picked over but we (two adults and a child more interested in her stuffed cat than filling a basket) were able to gather 15.75 pounds in 90 minutes.

The farm claims to use no pesticides and follow natural practices; indeed their plants appear naturally healthy. Weeds and pollinator insects are abundant but not so much as to be a problem to u-pickers. Jerry shared that they do use chemical fertilizers to replace nutrient loss. He expects the farm to have berries for another couple weeks - the website is updated daily with picking conditions.

Our opinion is that Jerry's Berries is simple and lovely. Rows are mulched generously with straw, making the hunt for small, flavorful berries pleasant. There are no items for sale other than u-pick berries, something I very much appreciate. No mother who just sweated over 10 pounds of sweet, juicy berries should have to negotiate about junk food while settling up with the farmer.

Now that my first fruit of the year are in the pantry, I can release the panicky feeling. Fresh fruit and vegetables are more abundant every day and soon all the empty jars will be filled again.

Jerry's Berries - www.jerrysberries.com

2849 Basil Western Rd. Baltimore Ohio 43105 USA Hours of operation: Monday - Friday, 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm; Saturday, 10:00 am to 8:00 pm; Sundays, 11:00 am to 8:00 pm Phone: 740-862-8819 or 740-862-8481

Orange Farmers and Artisans Market California {Silent Sunday}

Olde Towne Orange Farmers and Artisans Market: local pursuing-organic citrus and avocados, succulent and fruit plants, Guerilla Beekeepers honey from rescued bees, Milkman curated cheese and dairy products, tropical fruit, Front Porch popsicles in shirt sleeves in January,  a brilliant scavenger hunt to keep kids busy and learning, Carlsbad Aquafarm cultivated native oysters (best we've ever tasted) all in a friendly, spacious location with live music, seating, coffee and water provided. What a way to spend the morning!

Orange Home Grown Market

Saturdays 9 am - 1 pm, year-round Cypress St. and Palm Ave. (304 N. Cypress St.) in Olde Towne Orange 6 miles from Disneyland, CA OrangeHomegrown.org

Calves, Cows, and Cheese {Silent Sunday}

I learned 1001 things about milk, cows, and cheese on the Ohio Dairy Adventure, many of which I will share in future posts. To get you in the mood, peruse these photos from my dairy and cheese tours: 1) bottle feeding a one-week-old calf 2) several-weeks old Holstein calf licking nose 3) Holstein, Jersey, and Brown Swiss cows eating 4) dog considering benefits of drinking milk off floor versus risk of being kicked by a hoof 5) 20x20 milking parlor where each white tube is the milk flowing from a cow 6) cheese curds stirred by a machine 7) 1500 pound stacks of Pearl Valley swiss cheese in aging room

The American Dairy Association Mideast provided meals, accommodations, transportation and access to farms during the Ohio Dairy Adventure. They did not allow me to bring home a calf. My opinions are my own.

Owl Creek Amish Produce Auction

On Monday, Alex, Lil, and I trekked an hour north of Columbus for three hours of entertainment, education, groceries and snacks for only $16.25. Where was this great amusement? The Owl Creek Produce Auction at 20999 Waterford Rd. Fredericktown, Ohio 43019.

The auction begins with delivery of goods, mostly from Amish farms. The horse carts are unloaded into a large barn and grouped roughly according to lot size. Small lots for homeowners are under the eaves outside of the main building.

Before bidding starts, shoppers are welcome to wander through the offerings. Each bidder requires a number, available for free at the registration desk.

On the day we visited, two auctioneers sold the lots. A microphoned auctioneer, assistant, and recorder worked the big lots while a second set of non-micked men worked the outside smaller lots. The microphoned auctioneer also sold lots directly off the horse-pulled carts from a small tented stand.

The auctioneer described each lot quickly and started bidding. Many lots were split into parts wherein the bid was multiplied by the number of parts the bidder wanted, i.e. a lot of a dozen cabbages were bid on a per-cabbage basis and then multiplied by the number of cabbages the winner chose. A recorder noted the final price and winner bid number. A market manager posts average prices on the Owl Creek Produce Auction Report website.

I held off from bidding for awhile to observe how the auction worked. Lil encouraged me to bid on a lot of small pumpkins which I won for 50 cents a pumpkin, or $6.50 for the lot of 13. As soon as the bidding finishes, the winner can load their lot into their vehicle.

Until we won the pumpkins, Lil was totally confused about what was happening. She wanted to buy and know how much each item was going to cost. We explained that auctions are a good time to use our experience to estimate the value of goods. "How much would you pay?" we asked Lil.

Next, Lil had her eye on mums. The prices were great at $4.50 per gallon pot but the lot sizes were between 4 and 6 pots. I didn't need a lawn full of mums so I passed. I gathered that this week was the first for mums and perhaps in coming weeks the prices will be lower. Lil was sorry that we didn't get any flowers - another good lesson about auctions.

I eyed produce and some of it went for great prices, most notably a whole bushel of sweet banana peppers sold for just $1.00. The growing conditions were not advertised and therefore I wasn't interested in most of it. I prefer, especially for preserving, to use organic produce.

Lil spied a peck of small pears that were obviously chemical free - speckled, bird-pooped-upon, and not at all uniform. I managed to win them for $3.50. When we tasted them in the car on the way home, we discovered what a treat Lil found as the pears are tender and delicious.

The auction was well attended with people of all ages and backgrounds. Most of the buyers were non-Amish. Some seemed to be purchasing for small businesses while others were home cooks like myself. Several times I felt over-crowded but fresh air was only a few steps away.

We wandered away to look at new lots coming in and admire the horses. We ordered a reasonably priced but not Amish-made snack from a food stand behind the barn. Portable restrooms were available.

When we tired and were ready to go home, we took our bidder number back to the registration desk. Through a paper check system, the cashier quickly pulled up our lot prices and took our payment.

If you go:

• Bring cash or check, or maybe just cash if you don't want to get caught over-buying.
• Have an idea in mind of what you might like or need - it's easy to want to bid on something you don't need just because it's a good deal.
• Bring a water bottle, hat, and a portable chair if you want one.
• Though I didn't see anyone eating food brought from home, there seem to be very few rules and I'm sure you could eat in your car at the very least.
• Know that lots continue to come throughout the day, so being at the barn promptly at starting time is not necessary.
• Consider bringing a crate to contain any loose items in your trunk on the way home.
• Be cautious if you bring your youngin' - you might come home with thirteen pumpkins and a box of pears.

Owl Creek Produce Auction 20999 Waterford Rd. Fredericktown, Ohio 43019 740-627-1660 Monday – 11:00 am, Wednesday- 10:00 am, Friday- 9:00 am through the end of October

Franklin Park Conservatory Farmers' Market

There's a new farmers' market in town at the Franklin Park Conservatory. Franklin Park Farmers' Market manager Leslie Markworth shared that "The Conservatory has been teaching people about the benefits of growing their own food since 2000 with the start of its now nationally known community gardening program Growing to Green. In 2009, the Conservatory opened its four-acre ScottsMiracle-Gro Community Garden Campus, a living classroom and community resource for anyone interested in gardening and edible landscapes. In 2010, the Conservatory expanded its nutrition outreach efforts and began offering on-site culinary and nutrition classes. The Farmers’ Market was the natural next step in the Conservatory’s educational outreach efforts, while ultimately increasing access to fresh, local food."

Open Wednesdays through October 17, 2012 from 3-7 pm, Lil and I shopped on opening week in early June. The market is located on a shady path in front of the Conservatory building just off Broad street. Ample free parking is available along the entrance drive and in lots. Guests can find restrooms and a water fountain on the Lower Atrium level of the Conservatory, admission not required.

The vendor selection is small but well curated with ample fruit and vegetable, flower, baked goods, and handmade products stands and grains from Shagbark Mill. The Conservatory hosts a booth with information about their classes, events, and weekly raffle; on the day we were there, Lil was thrilled to pick up a mini-greenhouse. Food carts and trucks visit each week to provide guests with meal options too.

Though we were leaving for vacation the next day, Lil and I couldn't help but pick up the first blueberries of the season and a Soodles Bake Shop cake pop.

Shoppers would be remiss not to wander the gardens during their visit to the market. Benches are scattered throughout for visitors to rest and enjoy their purchases.

Upcoming Events: Weekly: Spend $5 at a featured vendor and receive a coupon for free admission to the Conservatory June 27th: *The Very Hungry Caterpillar visits the Conservatory’s Grand Atrium, 3-5 pm July 4th: RMT Songs of America, 4 pm July 18th: Flavors of the Harvest - sample recipes from the harvests at the Scotts Miracle-Gro Community Garden Campus. *Inside the Conservatory, admission required. All other events free.

If you go:

• Bring cash, as most vendors do not accept other forms of payment.
• Plan to stay awhile to enjoy the entertainment, gardens, and food trucks.
• Carry a reusable bag to bring home your goods; consider a cooler in the car if you are travelling far.
• Read my article on how to Shop The Farmers' Market Like A Pro for my complete list of tips.

Franklin Park Conservatory Farmers' Market Wednesdays 3-7 pm through October 17 Conservatory Drive just off 1777 Broad St. Columbus OH 43203 Weekly details on Facebook and the Farmers' Market web page